HID Headlights!

[moonraker558]

Just been thinking of upgrading my 407 with these lights, but I see they are very expensive to replace if one blows, does the extra brightness warrant the cost? Up to now I have hated these lights on other cars as they are blinding when coming towards you, so I thought if you can't beat them get some myself and perhaps I will be able to see where I am going when facing oncoming cars that have them. Any views?

[grasscarp]

my view is that if this light blinds the ones coming towards you, all you are going to do is cause them grief! I doubt if you having them is going to stop the others having the same effect. Why spend more. Roads are usually lit and full beam and dipped beam between them have always been effective for anything else. Why spend more money?

[The-HouseHusband]

If your car was not originally designed to be fitted with them then it is not just a simple case of swapping the light units. They have to be self levelling so as to minimise dazzle to oncoming vehicles.

Most aftermarket light units are designed to be used on show cars and do not pass UK regulations

[moonraker558]

It would appear to me THH that most cars that have them dont have self leveling light units fitted or they wouldn't be so blinding, also I think that by fitting the HID bulbs as well that would counteract the period of blindness caused when being approached by the oncoming cars as the lights would be of the same brightness.

[The-HouseHusband]

It wouldn't counteract it at all, you would just blind each other and have more chance of an accident.

If they are dazzling you perhaps they thought like you and fitted aftermarket kits so they could annoy the innocent motorist!!

If you cant beat them join them is not the way to go in this case.

[moonraker558]

Don't get me wrong, it's just the older I get the more less tolerent of them I am. I now hate driving in the dark for this reason.

[The-HouseHusband]

It may sound daft but the yellow tinted glasses you can get are very good for night driving, they only need to be a light yellow tint so still let plenty of light through and they cut down massively on the glare of oncoming vehicles.

I would seriously suggest trying them first as they are a lot cheaper than fitting HID's and then failing your MOT.

[moonraker558]

Had a pair of them for years, they do help.

[chas2008]

legaly, im fairly sure you are supposed to have headlamp washers as well...If they are set up right they shouldnt blind, so many modern cars are fitted with them now if it was that much of an issue they wouldnt get through MOTs or SUV /TUV approval

[AlBags]

You need a donor car really for HID conversion.
Each unit has an amplifier.
They have to be self-levelling .. or connected to suspension levelling system.
You need all the wiring provision to be in the car looms. That is not always the case (This too applies to Focus, whose wiring has to be correct model or replacement to support HID)

[Toureman]

Read this.....................

http://www.dft.gov.uk...fety/drs/hidheadlamps

[AlBags]

Well I know that...
Who the hell thinks they can make Halogen headlamps into HID headlamps by changing a bulb anyway?
Can't be done. They are just fake HID.